Guard assembly for track drive motors

ABSTRACT

A guard assembly comprises separable upper and lower covers detachably mounted on the frame of a track-type vehicle to form tunnel portions for shielding and protecting the drive motors and attendant conduits thereof. The lower cover comprises a centrally disposed member having its forward end hingedly mounted on the frame by a pair of hook members to facilitate removal and installation thereof. The rearward end of the member has towline attachment means formed thereon and a shear block arrangement is disposed between the member and the frame to transmit towing forces directly to the frame.

United States Patent Wanner GUARD ASSEMBLY FOR TRACK DRIVE MOTORSInventor: John C. Wanner, Aurora, 111.

US. Cl. ISO/6.48, 180/89 R Int. Cl B62d 21/18, B62d 11/04 Field ofSearch ISO/6.2, 6.48, 6.7, 9.2,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1936 Ruediger t. ISO/6.48 X

5/1958 Schwartz ISO/6.48

9/1970 Pensa ISO/6.48 12/1971 LauCk 180/648 Mar. 19, 1974 PrimaryExaminerl enneth H. Betts Assistant Examiner-Leslie .1. PapernerAttorney, Agent, or FirmFryer, Tjensvold, Phillips &

Lempio [57] ABSTRACT A guard assembly comprises separable upper andlower covers detachably mounted on the frame of a track-type vehicle toform tunnel portions for shielding and protecting the drive motors andattendant conduits thereof. The lower cover comprises a centrallydisposed member having its forward end hingedly mounted on the frame bya pair of hook members to facilitate removal and installation thereof.The rearward end of the member has towline attachment means formedthereon and a shear block arrangement is disposed between the member andthe frame to transmit towing forces directly to the frame.

14 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAFENTEDMAR 19 mm 3.797; 598

SHEET 1 [If Q ELEM]...

PAIENHEBMAR 19 m4 SHEEF [if Q 1 GUARD ASSEMBLY FOR TRACK DRIVE MOTORSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional hydraulically poweredtrack-type vehicles, such as hydraulic excavators, comprise a pair oftrack assemblies independently powered by separate drive motors. Thedrive motors are normally secured to a track roller frame to extendinwardly therefrom in a cantilevered manner. Conduits extend betweenhydraulic controls and the drive motors to selectively communicatehydraulic operating fluid therebetween. The drive motors and conduitsare usually unprotected to thus subject them to severe damage by impactwith rocks, stumps, and the like and by mud which tends to packtherearound during operation of the vehicle.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of thisinvention is to provide a guard assembly for shielding and protectingthe track drive motors and attendant conduits of a hydraulically poweredtrack-type vehicle.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved and separableguard assembly for track drive motors which is readily removable tofacilitate servicing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a guard assembly formotors having a lower cover which is hingedly connected to a frame tosupport one end of the lower cover during installation and removalthereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide the lower cover withtowline attachment means and means for transmitting towing forcesdirectly to the frame.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become morereadily apparent upon reference to the accompanyingv drawings andfollowing description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of ahydraulic excavator having a protective guard. assembly of the presentinvention attached thereon to enclose and protect a pair of track drivemotors and attendant structures.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, bottom plan view of the guard assembly.

FIGS. 3-5 are sections respectively taken on lines III- III, lV-lV andVV in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a guardassembly embodying this invention is attached to the rearward end of atrack-type vehicle 11, such as a hydraulic excavator, disposed formovement along a longitudinal axis thereof. The hydraulic excavator hasan upper unit-12 mounted on a carbody 13, secured between a pair oflaterally spaced and substantially parallel endless track' assemblies 14extending in the direction of such axis. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,a bottom plate 15 of the carbody has a laterally extending shear block16 secured thereunder by welds or the like. A pair of laterally spacedhooks 17 are also secured beneath the plate, forwardly of the shearblock, to have hook portions thereof point towards the rearward end ofthe vehicle.

Each track assembly 14 includes a final drive case 18 secured to arespective track roller frame 19 and an endless track 20 entrainedthereabout in the-usual man ner. The carbody and track roller frame aresecured together to comprise a relatively stationary vehicle frame. Eachtrack is driven by a hydraulic motor 21 through a final drive geartransmission (not shown) housed in case 18. Conduit means comprising apair of conduits 22 and 23 extend between carbody l3 and each drivemotor to selectively communicate pressurized hydraulic fluid between themotor and conventional operator control means (not shown). Mountingbrackets 24 and 25 (FIG. 4) are secured to each case 18 by bolts 26 and27, respectively, and are respectively positioned below and on arearward side of a drive motor.

Guard assembly 10, more clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, constitutes aunitized lower cover 28 and a separable and unitized upper cover 29,both detachably mounted on the vehicle frame. The covers cooperate toprovide a longitudinally extending and centrally disposed tunnel portionfor protecting conduits 22 and 23 and laterally extending tunnelportions for protecting drivemotors 21. The lower cover comprises agenerally horizontally disposed central plate member 30 having laterallyextending U-shaped members 31, comprising legs 32 and 33, securedthereto by upstanding plates 34 to thus position members 31 verticallybelow member The outboard end of each member 31 is removably attached tothe underside of a respective mounting bracket 24 by two bolts 35 (FIG.4). Each member 31 fully protects the underside of a drive motor and isspaced longitudinally from bottom plate 15 of the carbody (FIG. 2).Enlarged openings 36 are thus defined therebetween to permit the egressof dirt and the like therethrough.

The lower cover further comprises an upright member or channel 37,extending laterally between the track assemblies, having legs 32 ofmembers 31 and the rearward end of member 30 secured thereunder by weldsor the like (FIGS. 2 and 4). Each lateral end of the channel isremovably attached to a mounting bracket 25 by two bolts 38. The ends ofthe channel are recessed at 39 (FIG. 5) to provide adequate clearancefor dropping the lower cover, comprising members 30 and 31 and channel37.

The forward end of member 30 is attached to the underside of carbodyplate 15 by bolts 40 (FIG. 3). A pair of elongated slots 41 are formedtherethrough to normally engage hooks 17. The mating slots and hookmembers provide hinge means for hingedly connecting the lower cover tothe carbody whereby the lower cover can be pivoted downwardly to exposethe drive motors.

Plate member 30 and channel member 37 preferably comprise heavy-dutysteel plate constructions to withstand high impact loads normallyencountered thereat during vehicle operation. Upper cover 29 maycomprise a thin gauged sheet metal stamping since it is not normallyexposed to such high impact loads.

A laterally extending shear strip 42 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is secured to thetop surface of member 30, rearwardly of slots 41, to abut the forwardedge of shear block 16. Member 30 has tow line attachment means disposedat the rearward end thereof comprising a projection 43 having anaperture formed therethrough. During towing, shear strip 42 and shearblock 16 abut to provide force transmitting means for relieving shearstresses,

otherwise imposed on bolts 35, 38 and 40, by transmitting towing forcesto the frame directly.

Upper cover 29 comprises a generally horizontally disposed centralportion 44 and laterally extending shroud portions 45. Each shroudportion forms a laterally extending tunnel portion with underlyingmember 31 to fully enclose and protect a drive motor 21. Integrallyformed sidewalls 46 extend downwardly from central portion 44 toapproximately terminate at the lateral, free edges of member 30.

Overlying central portion 44 and the sidewalls from a longitudinallyextending and centrally disposed tunnel portion with plate member 30.Such tunnel portion encloses and protects substantial, longitudinallyextending portions of conduits 22 and 23, projecting forwardly fromshroud portions 45. The rearward end of the upper cover is removablyattached at a rearward flange 47 to channel 37 by bolts 48 whereas aforward end thereof is removably attached at a forward flange 49 to thetop of an upper plate 50 of the carbody by bolts 51.

In view of the foregoing, it is readily apparent that the detachableguard assembly of this invention fully protects the drive motors andattendant conduits against damage and facilitates expeditious servicingthereof. Such servicing is effected by initially detaching bolts 48 and51 and by removing the upper cover to expose the drive motors andconduits. Upon removal of bolts 35, 38 and 40, the lower cover can bepivoted downwardly on hook member 17 to permit the workman to performminor servicing operations.

Should servicing require complete removal of the lower cover from hookmembers 17, reinstallation thereof is accomplished by re-engaging thehook members with slots 41 and by fastening bolts 35, 38 and 40 inplace. The hinge means formed by the engaged hook members and slotsencourages proper alignment of the lower cover when its rearward end israised for attachment purposes. It should be noted that the lower coveris disposed to provide maximum ground clearance during vehicleoperation. In addition, openings 36 (FIG. 2) permit the egress of dirtand debris, discarded by the operating endless tracks, therethrough toprevent undue dirt accumulations.

What is claimed is:

1. A track-type vehicle disposed for movement along a longitudinal axisthereof comprising a pair of laterally spaced and parallel trackassemblies extending in the direction of said axis,

a vehicle frame supporting said track assemblies,

laterally spaced drive motors mounted on said frame with each motoroperatively connected to a respective one of said track assemblies, and

a guard assembly, comprising separable upper and lower covers,detachably mounted on said frame to at least substantially enclose saidmotors,

said bottom cover comprising a generally horizontally disposed platemember extending longitudinally in the direction of said axis, anupright mem ber secured to a rearward end of said plate member to extendupwardly therefrom and laterally between said track assemblies, arearward end of said plate member and the lateral ends of said uprightmember removably attached to said frame.

2. The invention of claim ll further comprising first and secondmounting brackets, having said lower cover removably attached thereto,secured to a case which mounts each of said drive motors on said frame,said first bracket positioned below a respective drive motor and saidsecond bracket positioned on a rearward side of such drive motor, thelateral ends of said upright member removably attached to said secondbrackets.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said upper cover comprises a forwardflange removably attached to said frame and a rearward flange removablyattached to said upright member.

4. The invention of claim 1 further comprising hinge means for hingedlyconnecting a forward end of said lower cover on said frame whereby saidlower cover can be pivoted downwardly to expose said drive motors.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said hinge means comprises aplurality of laterally spaced hook members secured to said frame witheach hook member engaging a slot formed through the forward end of saidlower cover.

6. The invention of claim 1 further comprising conduit means operativelyconnected to each of said drive motors for communicating operating fluidthereto and having substantial portions thereof extending longitudinallyin the direction of said axis, between said upper and lower covers.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said guard assembly comprises acentrally disposed tunnel portion extending longitudinally in thedirection of said axis to enclose said conduit means and a laterallyextending tunnel portion positioned on each side of said centrallydisposed tunnel portion to enclose each of said drive motors.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said bottom cover comprises agenerally horizontally and centrally disposed plate member cooperatingwith a vertically spaced, overlying central portion and laterally spacedsidewalls of said top cover to define said centrally disposed tunnelportion.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said plate member extends forwardlyfrom said lat'erally extending tun nel portions and-has its forward endattached to a bottom plate of said frame, said laterally extendingtunnel portions spaced rearwardly from said bottom plate to defineenlarged openings therebetween for permitting the egress of dirt and thelike therethrough.

10. The invention of claim 1 further comprising towline attachment meanssecured to and projecting beyond a rearward end of said lower cover.

11. The invention of claim 10 further comprising force transmittingmeans disposed between said frame and said lower cover for transmittingtowing forces directly to said frame.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said attachment means comprises aprojection on said lower cover having an aperture formed therethroughand said force transmitting means comprises a shear block secured to abottom surface of said frame to abut a shear strip secured to said lowercover.

13. A track-type vehicle disposed for movement along a longitudinal axisthereof comprising a pair of laterally spaced and parallel trackassemblies extending in the direction of said axis,

a vehicle frame supporting said track assemblies,

laterally spaced drive motors mounted on said frame with each motoroperatively connected to a respective one of said track assemblies,

along a longitudinal axis thereof comprising a pair of laterally spacedand parallel track assemblies extending in the direction of said axis,

a vehicle frame supporting said track assemblies,

laterally spaced drive motors mounted on said frame with each motoroperatively connected to a respective one of said track assemblies,

a guard assembly, comprising separable upper and lower covers,detachably mounted on said frame to at least substantially enclose saidmotors,

towline attachment means secured to and projecting beyond a rearward endof said lower cover, and

force transmitting means disposed between said frame and said lowercover for transmitting towing forces directly to said frame,

said attachment means comprising a projection on said lower cover havingan aperture formed therethrough and said force transmitting meanscomprising a shear block secured to a bottom surface of said frame toabut a shear strip secured to said lower cover.

1. A track-type vehicle disposed for movement along a longitudinal axisthereof comprising a pair of laterally spaced and parallel trackassemblies extending in the direction of said axis, a vehicle framesupporting said track assemblies, laterally spaced drive motors mountedon said frame with each motor operatively connected to a respective oneof said track assemblies, and a guard assembly, comprising separableupper and lower covers, detachably mounted on said frame to at leastsubstantially enclose said motors, said bottom cover comprising agenerally horizontally disposed plate member extending longitudinally inthe direction of said axis, an upright member secured to a rearward endof said plate member to extend upwardly therefrom and laterally betweensaid track assemblies, a rearward end of said plate member and thelateral ends of said upright member removably attached to said frame. 2.The invention of claim 1 further comprising first and second mountingbrackets, having said lower cover removably attached thereto, secured toa case which mounts each of said drive motors on said frame, said firstbracket positioned below a respective drive motor and said secondbracket positioned on a rearward side of such drive motor, the lateralends of said upright member removably attached to said second brackets.3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said upper cover comprises a forwardflange removably attached to said frame and a rearward flange removablyattached to said upright member.
 4. The invention of claim 1 furthercomprising hinge means for hingedly connecting a forward end of saidlower cover on said frame whereby said lower cover can be pivoteddownwardly to expose said drive motors.
 5. The invention of claim 4wherein said hinge means comprises a plurality of laterally spaced hookmembers secured to said frame with each hook member engaging a slotformed through the forward end of said lower cover.
 6. The invention ofclaim 1 further comprising conduit means operatively connected to eachof said drive motors for communicating operating fluid thereto andhaving substantial portions thereof extending longitudinally in thedirection of said axis, between said upper and lower covers.
 7. Theinvention of claim 6 wherein said guard assembly compRises a centrallydisposed tunnel portion extending longitudinally in the direction ofsaid axis to enclose said conduit means and a laterally extending tunnelportion positioned on each side of said centrally disposed tunnelportion to enclose each of said drive motors.
 8. The invention of claim7 wherein said bottom cover comprises a generally horizontally andcentrally disposed plate member cooperating with a vertically spaced,overlying central portion and laterally spaced sidewalls of said topcover to define said centrally disposed tunnel portion.
 9. The inventionof claim 8 wherein said plate member extends forwardly from saidlaterally extending tunnel portions and has its forward end attached toa bottom plate of said frame, said laterally extending tunnel portionsspaced rearwardly from said bottom plate to define enlarged openingstherebetween for permitting the egress of dirt and the liketherethrough.
 10. The invention of claim 1 further comprising towlineattachment means secured to and projecting beyond a rearward end of saidlower cover.
 11. The invention of claim 10 further comprising forcetransmitting means disposed between said frame and said lower cover fortransmitting towing forces directly to said frame.
 12. The invention ofclaim 11 wherein said attachment means comprises a projection on saidlower cover having an aperture formed therethrough and said forcetransmitting means comprises a shear block secured to a bottom surfaceof said frame to abut a shear strip secured to said lower cover.
 13. Atrack-type vehicle disposed for movement along a longitudinal axisthereof comprising a pair of laterally spaced and parallel trackassemblies extending in the direction of said axis, a vehicle framesupporting said track assemblies, laterally spaced drive motors mountedon said frame with each motor operatively connected to a respective oneof said track assemblies, a guard assembly, comprising separable upperand lower covers, detachably mounted on said frame to at leastsubstantially enclose said motors, and hinge means hingedly connecting aforward end of said lower cover on said frame whereby said lower covercan be pivoted downwardly to expose said drive motors, said hinge meanscomprising a plurality of laterally spaced hook members secured to saidframe with each hook member engaging a slot formed through the forwardend of said lower cover.
 14. A track-type vehicle disposed for movementalong a longitudinal axis thereof comprising a pair of laterally spacedand parallel track assemblies extending in the direction of said axis, avehicle frame supporting said track assemblies, laterally spaced drivemotors mounted on said frame with each motor operatively connected to arespective one of said track assemblies, a guard assembly, comprisingseparable upper and lower covers, detachably mounted on said frame to atleast substantially enclose said motors, towline attachment meanssecured to and projecting beyond a rearward end of said lower cover, andforce transmitting means disposed between said frame and said lowercover for transmitting towing forces directly to said frame, saidattachment means comprising a projection on said lower cover having anaperture formed therethrough and said force transmitting meanscomprising a shear block secured to a bottom surface of said frame toabut a shear strip secured to said lower cover.